Does anyone recall a comedy/variety show from the late 70s/early 80s called "Pink Lady & Jeff"? "Pink Lady" were two young female Japanese singers who were actually a big hit in Japan, and Jeff was a comedian.

The whole premise of the show was that 'Pink Lady' wore skimpy costumes, and never understood a word of English - so they had no idea what Jeff was saying (They would just answer "Yes" to everything he said, and laugh). "Pink Lady" would sing during the show, also (can't recall if they sang in English or Japanese) and Jeff would do comedy sketches.

I think the show ran for about four or five weeks (Friday nights?) on NBC before being pulled.

I borrowed the DVD set from my then-boss, who hosted a pop culture radio show at the time. It was indeed a horrible show. :eek: :lol:

I borrowed the DVD set from my then-boss, who hosted a pop culture radio show at the time. It was indeed a horrible show. :eek: :lol:


There's a DVD set of this show out there somewhere? YIKES! :eek: :eek: :eek:

:wave:

Scary, huh? :eek: :lol:

Scarier - the DVD obviously sold? :lol:

I don't know what's scarier - that people bought it or that I actually watched all 6 episodes all the way through!! At least I didn't buy it. :lol:

Please refresh my memory - did they sing in Japanese or English?

They sang in extremely broken English. There was actually an interview with Jeff Altman included in the bonus features, and he said the girls sang (and spoke) English phonetically. It's easy to see they had no idea what they were saying - and it was probably better that way. :eek: :lol:

I don't know what's scarier - that people bought it or that I actually watched all 6 episodes all the way through!! At least I didn't buy it. :lol:believe it or not i did its really different the werid thing is i didnt watch it at all when it first aired but then again who did?

believe it or not i did its really different the werid thing is i didnt watch it at all when it first aired but then again who did?
Which explains why it only lasted 6 weeks!!:lol:

believe it or not i did its really different the werid thing is i didnt watch it at all when it first aired but then again who did?
Not me - but then again, I was only about 5 months old when it originally aired. :lol:

Which explains why it only lasted 6 weeks!!:lol:
Exactly!! :lol:

believe it or not i did its really different the werid thing is i didnt watch it at all when it first aired but then again who did?

I was one of the demented few who watched the original airings of this. It kind of grew on me during those six weeks, like a fungus I suppose.
Ah, the memories.

I don't think this show was really that bad, it was more like a bad IDEA. Poorly conceived. Wrong show, wrong time. The final gasp of the variety show format. But those involved at least seemed to be trying to put on a good show, one problem was the broken english the Pink Lady girls spoke. Jeff Altman seemed to be a nice enough guy. I did not know Rhino put the whole series out on DVD, that is interesting. I should get myself a copy. While not a classic show by any means, it's variety entertainment and is better than most of the foul languaged, violence ridden garbage that's on TV today.

Watching clips of the Pink Lady shows on you tube, I get the impression that these girls were rushed on to american TV before they were ready. I can say again that a big problem with the show was the Pink Lady girls having difficulty speaking the english language. They did not come off well in the show at all. If a little more time, thought, and preparation had gone into this show prior to production, it might have turned out a little better. But it looks like the show was rushed into production, it was just a bad idea and poorly conceived. Accept these shows for what they are, don't blame the performers as they tried to put on a decent show. The network was likely just trying to cash in on the girls popularity, and it was a lame attempt.

I was 9 when this show originally aired. My sister was 12 and actually remembers the show. I got to see the show a few years back on Trios. I don't think I would spend the money to buy the series even if it was in the dollar bin at Walmart:)

I think NBC was so eager to have some kind of showing in the Nielsens in the late 70s, they tried anything (obviously) to see what would be a hit. This was not one of them.

It's so bad you just have to laugh at them. It was really, really bad!

I was one of the demented few who watched the original airings of this. It kind of grew on me during those six weeks, like a fungus I suppose.
Ah, the memories.
:rofl:

For some reason, this thing has stuck in my mind after 30 years! I bet the original "Pink Lady" doesn't even remember this show - it's been 'exorcised' from their memories!

For some reason, this thing has stuck in my mind after 30 years! I bet the original "Pink Lady" doesn't even remember this show - it's been 'exorcised' from their memories!
They may not - but Jeff Altman was featured in a interview in the DVD extras. Not only that, he also introduced each episode!! :eek: :lol:

I actually remember watching this, either when it premiered or soon after. NBC publicized the show pretty heavily.

...that in the 1979-'80 season, NBC's president and chief programmer, Fred Silverman, was "throwing" practically ANYTHING on the network's schedule in the hopes that one of his ideas or suggestions would become a "flash hit". He got the idea for "PINK LADY" after seeing Mei & Kei's picture in a magazine. He heard one of their records, and decided, I'm going to make them the next 'Sonny & Cher'/'Tony Orlando & Dawn'/'Donny & Marie'. What he forgot to investigate was whether the girls could actually speak English. By the time he found out, it was too late to cancel the deal. He made the best of a bad situation by having Jeff Altman as their "Sonny"/"Tony"/"Donny", and the girls phonetically learned their lines for the "introductions" and comedy sketches. NBC promoted the hell out of the series, on Silverman's orders. Yet, after all the publicity and self-promotion on other NBC shows, it was a disaster in the ratings {a title change to "PINK LADY & JEFF" during its final weeks didn't help, either}.

One good thing came out of it: in his autobiography, "Where Have I Been?", Sid Caesar recalled the concern about Mei & Kei's inability to speak English- crucial to the comedy sketches- when he appeared for the first time as a guest star. He took matters into his own hands, suggesting a sketch where he portrayed their "samurai" father, using his patented "Japanese double-talk" to convey his character's disdain for their boyfriends, personal appearance, etc. And THOSE sketches were funny! So much, that Sid returned several times to do variations of them...and that may have been the best part of the show.

:tv:

...that in the 1979-'80 season, NBC's president and chief programmer, Fred Silverman, was "throwing" practically ANYTHING on the network's schedule in the hopes that one of his ideas or suggestions would become a "flash hit". He got the idea for "PINK LADY" after seeing Mei & Kei's picture in a magazine. He heard one of their records, and decided, I'm going to make them the next 'Sonny & Cher'/'Tony Orlando & Dawn'/'Donny & Marie'. What he forgot to investigate was whether the girls could actually speak English. By the time he found out, it was too late to cancel the deal. He made the best of a bad situation by having Jeff Altman as their "Sonny"/"Tony"/"Donny", and the girls phonetically learned their lines for the "introductions" and comedy sketches. NBC promoted the hell out of the series, on Silverman's orders. Yet, after all the publicity and self-promotion on other NBC shows, it was a disaster in the ratings {a title change to "PINK LADY & JEFF" during its final weeks didn't help, either}.

One good thing came out of it: in his autobiography, "Where Have I Been?", Sid Caesar recalled the concern about Mei & Kei's inability to speak English- crucial to the comedy sketches- when he appeared for the first time as a guest star. He took matters into his own hands, suggesting a sketch where he portrayed their "samurai" father, using his patented "Japanese double-talk" to convey his character's disdain for their boyfriends, personal appearance, etc. And THOSE sketches were funny! So much, that Sid returned several times to do variations of them...and that may have been the best part of the show.

:tv:
Another bright spot of PL&J was Jim Varney (later of Ernest fame). He added a lot of easy-going charm every time he was on.

...that in the 1979-'80 season, NBC's president and chief programmer, Fred Silverman, was "throwing" practically ANYTHING on the network's schedule in the hopes that one of his ideas or suggestions would become a "flash hit". He got the idea for "PINK LADY" after seeing Mei & Kei's picture in a magazine. He heard one of their records, and decided, I'm going to make them the next 'Sonny & Cher'/'Tony Orlando & Dawn'/'Donny & Marie'. What he forgot to investigate was whether the girls could actually speak English. By the time he found out, it was too late to cancel the deal. He made the best of a bad situation by having Jeff Altman as their "Sonny"/"Tony"/"Donny", and the girls phonetically learned their lines for the "introductions" and comedy sketches. NBC promoted the hell out of the series, on Silverman's orders. Yet, after all the publicity and self-promotion on other NBC shows, it was a disaster in the ratings {a title change to "PINK LADY & JEFF" during its final weeks didn't help, either}.

One good thing came out of it: in his autobiography, "Where Have I Been?", Sid Caesar recalled the concern about Mei & Kei's inability to speak English- crucial to the comedy sketches- when he appeared for the first time as a guest star. He took matters into his own hands, suggesting a sketch where he portrayed their "samurai" father, using his patented "Japanese double-talk" to convey his character's disdain for their boyfriends, personal appearance, etc. And THOSE sketches were funny! So much, that Sid returned several times to do variations of them...and that may have been the best part of the show.

:tv:i agree those sketches were genuinely funny

:thanks:

I had almost forgotten about Varney's supporting role; you could see, even back then, that he was going to "make it on his own". So, there WERE some "bright spots" in the series, brief as it was.

Of course, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" couldn't resist parodying it while it was on: remember their "Pink Lady & Carl" sketch, which imagined "Carl Sagan" as "straight man" to "Mei & Kei"? :lol:

:tv:

..and you too, '70s show watcher'!

:wave:

..and you too, '70s show watcher'!

:wave::wave: yep that snl sketch was dead on

:thanks:

I had almost forgotten about Varney's supporting role; you could see, even back then, that he was going to "make it on his own". So, there WERE some "bright spots" in the series, brief as it was.

Of course, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" couldn't resist parodying it while it was on: remember their "Pink Lady & Carl" sketch, which imagined "Carl Sagan" as "straight man" to "Mei & Kei"? :lol:

:tv:
My pleasure! I loved Jim Varney, God rest his soul. He was also great as the voice of Slinky in the Toy Story 1 & 2. I never saw the Pink Lady & Carl parody. Who played "Carl"?

I believe Harry Shearer portrayed "Carl' in that sketch, and Jane and Gilda were "Mei" & "Kei". However, it wasn't featured in the hour-long edited repeat edition seen on E! Entertainment a few years ago....

:tv:

I believe Harry Shearer portrayed "Carl' in that sketch, and Jane and Gilda were "Mei" & "Kei". However, it wasn't featured in the hour-long edited repeat edition seen on E! Entertainment a few years ago....

:tv:
Sounds awesome. :lol:

Sounds awesome. :lol:it was and by the way if you want to check it out it is on the bob newhart hosted snl in the upcoming season 5 boxset

it was and by the way if you want to check it out it is on the bob newhart hosted snl in the upcoming season 5 boxset
Thanks!! :cool: :D

Thanks!! :cool: :Dyoyr welcome :)

I knew it- May 10, 1980; that was the night Newhart first guest- hosted "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE", with the "Pink Lady and Carl" sketch!!!! (I just forgot which episode it was...:wallbang). By that time, "PINK LADY & JEFF" had already been cancelled.

Thanks, 'cat', for that information!

:thumbsup:

...and, of course, you too, '70s'!

:tiphat:

...and, of course, you too, '70s'!

:tiphat:your welcome im glad i could help

In the beginning of the opening credits for the Pink Lady TV series, the Cleveland Municipal Stadium can be seen. And I just did a search on Google and saw this picture of the musical duo:
http://www.bizarrerecords.com/galleries/diversity/PinkLady.jpg

I remember seeing the old Munincipal Stadium in the opening credits! I still don't know why it was there. :lol:

I remember the series, but I had no memory of how long it lasted. I think initially NBC had some unusually high hopes for it, IIRC (of course they hope everything becomes a hit, but for some reason this seemed to get special treatment?).

I remember the series, but I had no memory of how long it lasted. I think initially NBC had some unusually high hopes for it, IIRC (of course they hope everything becomes a hit, but for some reason this seemed to get special treatment?).
The show originally aired from March 1-April 4, 1980. Two more unaired episodes showed up on the DVD set.

...that picture you reproduced, 'Jim', is a gatefold cover from Mie & Kei's only American album, released in 1979 (which turned up in "bargain bins" a year or so later)- and the one I believe Fred Silverman heard, which influenced his decision to build a variety show around them without first checking to see if they could speak English. As I've previously mentioned, he promoted the hell out of "PINK LADY", focusing on the "glitz and glamour", the guest stars [LARRY HAGMAN! HUGH HEFNER! JERRY LEWIS! ALICE COOPER!! BLONDIE!! CHEAP TRICK!!!], and the girls in bikinis during the "Hot Tub" segments, hoping viewers wouldn't notice their inability to speak English....but viewers did. The ratings were so mediocre, the show quickly moved from Saturdays to Fridays...and off the air.

Incidentally, the show was produced by the Krofft Brothers, who initially produced "DONNY AND MARIE"; Silverman obviously thought their approach to variety, which worked so well with the Osmonds, would work wonders for "Pink Lady", conveniently forgetting they also produced "THE BRADY BUNCH VARIETY HOUR" for him at ABC in 1977, which lasted a little longer than "PINK LADY & JEFF".

:tv: